Mexico weekly ledger., 1887-11-10
DAFT OR DEADs
Was Milligan Murdered, or
Has he Deserted His
Family?
MENTAL ALTERATION THE
MOST ACCEPTABLE
THEORY.
His Wife Almost Distracted Over
HIS Mysterious Disappear
ance-Where is Hep


Ira Milligan, a prominent young
farmer living 1-2 miles southwest,
had occasion to eject from his resi-
denee tough" tramp about noon
Wednesday. The vagrant resisted,
and as a last resort, Mr.. Milligan
landed him in the road by kick.
The tramp left swearing vengeance.
His family being away on a visit,
Mr.. Milligan went to the residence
of a neighbor, Mr.. Cline, half
mile this side, on business. To this
gentleman and his family Mr.. Mil
ligan related the occurrence noted
above, the tramp's threat, etc., af-
terwards returning to his home for
the night. Mr.. Cline had occasion
to go to Milligan's house about s
O'Clock next morning and was as
tonished to find the kitchen door
open, but the owner not at home.
Signs ofa slight scuffle were ap-
parent upstairs, and Milligan' s
story of the night before flashed to
| his mind. A search was immedi-
ately instituted but Mr.. Milligan
could not be found, and foul play
was at once suspicioned and search
ing parties at once went to work.
Friday the editor of the
LEDGER, in company with J. G.
Trimble, Master Workman of the
| A. O. U. w. Lodge of this city, OF
which order Milligan was mem
Der in cook standing, visited his
residence. We found q large num-
Der of neighbors present and about
100 were still searching, but with
no success. Parties were out all
night and will keep up the search
till some clew is obtained. The fol-
ing letter was found in Milligan's S
room and was addressed to his wife:
To my darling wife. Dear Carrie.
WEDNESDAY, NIGHT, HALF-PAsT I.
IL do not know why it is, but ]
have a foreboding that something
may happen to me tonight, and
cannot shake off the feeling. To-day
at noon | caught tramp trying to
| get into the house and [ sent him
off with kick or two and he went
/ off swearing that he would come
back and settle with me, and that
[ would not get off as easy as
would like to, and that / might
look for him soon and that he would
not come by himself, and all this
afternoon l could not get rid of the
feeling that perhaps he might come
back. He was bad looking fellow
and [ do not feel easy at all about
lit. I would go and stay all night
at Mr.. Cline's, but / am afraid that
he might come and burn the house
or barn, so I guess that | will stay
and risk it. If anything happens
to me 1 pray God that he will
I watch over you and care tor you
and if l should never see you agair
in this world, I hope to meet yor
in a better one. Oh, my darling, il
anything happens take care of my
babies and may God help you te
train them up to love and fear him
| can't get rid of the feeling thai
harm will come to me, but cam
tell. God is everywhere and ht
knows what is for the best, and i
harm comes, may Gods will b'
, done. IRA.
The letter is dated 700 O'Clock
One of the neighbors saw a light il
{ his room as late as 9o'clock, which
t was unusually late for him to b
, up. There are two theories abou
the disappearance; One is fou
: play, and the other is, that he lef
7 of his own accord, (either in hi
: right mind or while temporaril,
insane) and wrote the letter an
r broke the door latch to throw peo
: pie off the scent. After CAREFUL,
i examining the house and investi
} eating the business affairs of tn
2 young man we are decidedly In
clined toward the latter theor,
although there are some few goo
> grounds for the fears of foul play
Milligan is young man of the yer.
best of habits and respected by al
who knew him. Honest to the las
cent, but in rather Strengthened Gil
cumstances and man who coul
not bear to owe cent, he was, c
course worried to some extent o
s account of the failure of his GRO
a this season and some debts h
j. owed. The amount he owes woul
r not foot up very much and he ha
e plenty of stock to pay for all h
t owed, but no other cause for hi
s voluntary disappearance could b
a thought of except insanity, as hi
n domestic relations were ofthe mos
h pleasant nature andno mani no ma
ter how cramped he might be fe
money! would leave such vii
and two bright little boys, on
. about two and the other four yeal
old. Insanity did not run in h.
family and he never had moros
d spells, so his wife cannot think
+ any cause for his leaving, and it,
.e course, almost breaks her heart
n think, for moment, that he woal
le go off in this way if in his rigl
sr mind, and is inclined to the theol
At of foul play, We do not belize
n there was any foul play beeau
D. there are not enough signs of
struggle. The outside door of Il